Marriott tweaks brands for Indian customers

Marriott International has tweaked its Courtyard and Fairfield Inn brands to suit the needs of the Indian customer.

The company, which inaugurated its 7th business hotel property Courtyard by Marriot in Pune and has 18 more under construction across the country, has also announced the launch of its economy brand Fairfield Inn in India.

“The Courtyard looks different in the US. Here, we have added an executive lounge and free high speed Internet,” Mr Craig Smith, COO and Vice-President, Marriott International- Asia-Pacific and Australia, said, adding that a team from the US had spent six months researching the needs of the local client before the features for Fairfield Inn were finalised.

With the first of these under construction at Manesar, Fairfield Inn will have larger rooms, a three-meals-a-day restaurant serving Indian and western cuisine, a bar as well as food being delivered to rooms, Mr Smith said. Marriott has signed a deal with its New Delhi-based join venture partner Samhi Hotels, to set up 15 Fairfield Inn properties across India in the next few years.

Mr Rajeev Menon, Area Vice-President - India, Malaysia, Maldives and Australia, said that India was the fastest growing markets and accounted for 10 per cent of Marriott's annual revenue of $2.5 billion from the APAC region. The Group currently has 4,000 rooms, with another 8,500 rooms under construction, not including the Fairfield brand, he said.

Pune's new Courtyard hotel, the third Marriott property in the city and the second of the brand, is a 179-key property. A third Courtyard at Chakan and a JW Marriott are under construction.

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